Violent crime drop continuing

STOCKTON - The Stockton Police Department released new statistics Thursday showing a continuing decline in violent crime compared to 2012, when the city set a record with 71 homicides.

Jason Anderson

STOCKTON - The Stockton Police Department released new statistics Thursday showing a continuing decline in violent crime compared to 2012, when the city set a record with 71 homicides.

Homicides were down 63 percent over the first eight months of 2013 compared with the same period in 2012, authorities said. There were 46 homicides in Stockton at the end of August last year. There were 17 in the same period this year.

Overall, violent crime was down 18.7 percent over the first eight months this year, including a 30.9 percent decline in robbery, a 12.5 percent drop in forcible rape and an 11.4 percent decline in aggravated assault, police said. Over the first six months of 2013, homicides were down 63.6 percent and violent crime was down 16.8 percent, authorities said.

Property crime was up 4.5 percent over the first eight months of 2013 compared to 2012, police said. There was a 31.1 percent increase in arson and an 11.5 percent increase in larceny. Auto thefts are down 5.1 percent in the first eight months of this year compared with 2012, police said.

Officer Joe Silva, a spokesman for the Police Department, said officers will continue their efforts to combat violent crime.

"Every day when the men and women of the Stockton Police Department log on to go to work, their mission is to go after the worst of the worst violent offenders," Silva said. "Even though the city has seen a decrease in violent crime, our officers are more than ever committed to going after gangs and criminals who use guns."